La Plaza de Armas.
La Plaza de Armas is the main square in the center of Cuzco, after having been the center of the ancient Inca capital. Here are some of the important landmarks of the city: the Jesuit Church and the Cathedral of Cuzco, and many restaurants and shops. This place is a must for any visitor, but is also very good for chilling out in the sun.
Cuzco Cathedral.
A building that shows the fusion of both worlds, Inca and colonial architecture. Later, the site was modified and part of the reddish granite blocks were brought from Sacsayhuaman fortress. A huge church, with twenty-four vaults, eleven chapels, one chapter house and a luxurious sacristy with paintings of la escuela cusqueña!
Its interior is a blend of Baroque styles, late Gothic and Plateresque. With magnificent wood carvings, on the pulpit stands his swarthy Christ and in the choir.
El Qoricancha (temple of the sun)
Highly recommended is going to the Qorikancha temple where now is located the convent of Santo Domingo. This was the main temple in the Inca culture and there you can appreciate the full extent of perfection in Inca architecture.
The walls are really well fit together, it’s so impressive. All walls were covered in gold and silver. Once there, you cannot stop thinking and imagining how people were able to develop such a magnificent architecture. Definitely another must see in Cuzco city.
Sacsayhuaman
The ceremonial site of Sacsayhuaman is located 1 km from Cuzco, capital of the ancient Inca Empire. Sacsayhuaman Fortress housed the Temple of the lightning, and is considered a landmark of military architecture, built during the reign of Tupac Yupanqui by people who did not know the wheel, but were able to move stones of 300 tons.
This place holds every June 24 the Feast of Intiraymi, religious ceremony dedicated to the Sun God, to coincide with the summer solstice.
San Blas Neighborhood
San Blas is one of the most attractive areas of Cuzco city. Very touristy, like the rest of the city, this area in paticular by its narrow streets, cobblestone, and many steps to reach the top of the hill. There are many restaurants and craft shops in old houses built by the Spaniards on Inca foundations. With height, the views over the rooftops of Cuzco are wonderful. It is interesting to go through San Blas and appreciate its charm and calmness.
San Pedro Market
This market is huge and gives the feeling to enter some disorder, but really is not. The stalls are grouped according to the merchandise to sell.
Mainly food, especially corn in all its varieties, but also potatoes and local products. This colorful market offers delicious and inexpensive dishes, as well as great fruit juices that local people have for breakfast. Similarly, the smells of all kinds go with other voices and background noises, being all extremely animated, like a show that runs without interruption. In short, it is a real must see if you are in Cuzco place.
The stone of 12 angles
Perhaps the most famous stone in Peru, the legendary stone of 12 angles of the Inca wall in the Palace of Inca Roca, which is now the Archbishop’s Palace, two blocks from the main square. It is unthinkable not go to Cuzco and visit this stone. Its assembly is perfect, precise cuts make this stone a marvel of human architecture, and one can’t imagine how they ancients performed this feat, even with modern machinery is almost impossible to carry out this task. A piece of stone to admire a whole culture. Let’s discover the corners of Cuzco!
